MMA News

HALIFAX – It was Gavin Tucker’s big UFC debut, and it was happening in front of his home crowd. He should’ve been nervous and not been able put out a nearly flawless performance Sunday at UFC Fight Night 105.

And yet, that’s pretty much how things played. Tucker put on a 15-minute clinic against Sam Sicilia on his way to a unanimous decision victory in which all three judges scored it 30-27.

But despite what the scores indicated and what was witnessed by those in attendance at Scotiabank Centre during the FS1-televised main card, the undefeated Tucker (10-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) left the octagon feeling like he could’ve done more.

“I’m happy I won, but as soon as we hit the dressing room backstage we just started talking about the opportunities that I had to finish him that I didn’t take,” Tucker said during his post-fight press conference. “I wanted a finish in my debut, but Sam’s a tough guy. … It’s good to get a win and still have stuff to take away.”

At points during the fight, Tucker seemed to be enjoying himself a little too much, though he insisted that had nothing to do with disrespecting Sicilia (15-8 MMA, 5-7 UFC).

It was all part of a plan.

“That was more for strategy,” Tucker said. “I would never intentionally be disrespectful to anybody in there. I was kind of hoping a little antics would draw him in more. … I was hoping that he would get a little more frustrated.”

Given how the fight went down, frustration was something Tucker didn’t deal with.

“I just went out and tried to enjoy myself, and for the most part I did,” he said.